Understanding Breast Lift Surgery

What is the difference between breast augmentation and a breast lift? Actually, this is a common point of confusion and is good to clear up if you are going to have any sort of breast enhancement surgery.

A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that raises and/or reshapes any sagging breast tissue. An augmentation is a procedure that relies on implants and surgical techniques to increase and enhance the size of the breasts.

The breast lift is exactly as described, and provides a nice “boost” to the entire breast which creates a much more youthful and appealing profile. It is done in several different ways and usually depends upon the amount of lift needed, and the size of the breasts.

For example, a large-busted woman who needs a great deal of lift through such a surgery is going to find that their doctor has performed several different techniques to ensure that the results as are expected. These techniques tend to include specific incisions, stitches and even the removal or relocation of certain tissue. A smaller-busted woman may find that several of the incisions required for the surgery have been unnecessary in order to get the finest results.

The breast lift surgery is an enhancement technique that can often be done under a local anesthesia and in the plastic surgeon’s office or a hospital. Most patients require less than three hour’s time to complete the entire surgery, though some patients opt for other procedures that include reduction or implants which add time to the process.

Why would a patient want implants at the same time as the lift? Almost all lifts result in the removal of some breast tissue, and this means that total breast size can decrease. This tends to be the primary reason that a patient may decide to have their surgeon do the implant simultaneously. Such a choice also allows the recovery process for both procedures to be condensed into a single period of time as well.